If you have purchased Utada Hikaru’s latest album lately, you may wish to check if track 10 is truncated towards the end of the song. The friendly assistant at HMV (Citilink) was ripping the plastic covers of more than 10 of her CDs open including a newer batch and an older batch and they all have the same problem. In fact, I have not seen so many CDs ripped open right in front of my eyes in such a short time frame (obviously I don’t buy that many CDs at one go, ever). The sight and smell of a whole stack of new CDs was enough to put me in a temporary state of euphoria. Need not to say, since we could not find one that is not flawed, I returned my CD, paid S$1.05 (duh!), and got myself a S$20 HMV gift voucher instead.
Judging by the fact that “Heart Station” is still reigning over the HMV Japanese and Korean Chart, I suspect many may have bought this Malaysian pressed CD and thought that a truncated song #10 is as intended. But it isn’t. I headed over to the listening station at HMV Orchard and that one was OK. Take it back for a refund or exchange (better check on the spot!) if yours is a defect like mine. Strange to say, I was told that I was the first one returning the CD (I bought it quite some time ago) while all her “Heart Station” CDs in the shop seems defective. What happens to all who bought the disc? I have no clue.
I have still yet to catch the Utada fever (perhaps it is heating up somehow) purely because a number years ago, in retaliation of my fanatic support for the – in Cynthia’s own words – ear-piercing Ayumi Hamasaki, she has joined the Utada camp. Immature we are, I know. Besides, they both have different styles. Utada is more Pop / R&B while Ayumi is perhaps more Pop / Rock? But Cynthia and I have been … rivals ever since. She would join the Justin camp and I would pick Justin’s ex-girlfriend Britney (!) instead.
To put things in perspective, the first album released by the then-16 years old New York born singer songwriter still holds the record of the most copies ever sold in Japan (close to 8 millions). And her “Single Collection Vol. 1” remains as one of my top picks within my Japanese CD collection.
Perhaps I am still very hung up with her classic hits like “Automatic”, “Addicted To You”, and “Wait & See”, her subsequent releases don’t quite hit my spot. So how does “Heart Station” measure up?
I think “Heart Station” leaves a deeper impression on me than her previous one, “Ultra Blue”. Her voice, I must say, sound a lot better than her earlier work. I love the improvisation and the soulfulness. I especially like her lower register that is uncommon amongst her Japanese peers. There are some songs within the album that I absolutely love such as “Fight the Blues”, “Heart Station”, “Beautiful World”, “Celebrate”, and “Prisoner of Love”. There are also some songs towards the end such as ” ぼくはくま” and “虹色バス” that I don’t think I really get it. What a strange way to end an album.
A melody filled song crafting effort with chunks of surprisingly interesting arrangement is probably one of the reasons why I enjoy listening to this album. She may not have the stage presence like other mega J-pop stars (I also owned one of her live DVD) but she does have the voice and a list of enviable accomplishments in the past 9 years of her music career.
It has been quite a difficult task to find a video of hers that I can feature here. The closest one I can get is one anime made by a fan. Pretty good actually.
14 replies on “Utada Hikaru – Heart Station – Classic It May Not But What A Soulful Voice She Has!”
Do you have a big collection of Japanese CDs?
CSC – Not a lot. About 5-10% of my total, which is probably about 70 of them judging at what I had half a year ago (and certainly has grown).
I am usually more keen to write reviews on Japanese CDs because (1) I usually sample them more extensively before buying them (as compares to the English and International ones) and (2) there ain’t many J-pop reviews in English. At times I have to use a web translator to translate some of what people write in Japanese. So I thought, if I am looking for help in deciding which ones to buy, I am sure there are others who may need help too.
So you know/speak Japanese, don’t you ? You listen to a lot of Jap music. I have not listened to any Jap music for a while since I have not watched Jap drama for a while. I like some of the Korean theme music in their comedy/drama such as My Lovely Samsoon and FullHouse. Hahha….the only two I watch and I enjoy. The rest are too “soapy” and draggy for me.
And as if I listen to songs and music nowadays…it has been a long time.
Tigerfish – I don’t speak Japanese at all! I want to learn though. I do enjoy listening to International music. Besides Japanese, I listen to French music too amongst others. I often find that music sounds different across different countries and cultures, which I think transcends above the language barrier.
In fact, one should be able to feel the emotion even without the understanding of words. Classical music (which I also collect) is one good example of melody without lyrics.
Having said that, it is always an added bonus if you do understand what the lyrics are all about. That’s why Japanese CDs are good because they usually come with a set of Chinese translated lyrics.
You should try to add some music while you are cooking your favorite dishes. They may turn out differently … good 🙂
I have always associated Utada with ‘Automatic’ but have been out of touch with Jap music since then.
Good lord, are Singaporeans really that ‘blur’ or is their sense of music that bad? Truncated music and they are oblivious to that??? What the??? o_o
Ivy – So I was not the only one who associate Utada with ‘Automatic’ eh?
Maybe most Singaporeans just don’t bother to go through the hassle and return the CD? I mean, there is no visible scratch or anything on the disc and you will have to explain to the sales person and ‘show’ it to them. That song is truncated right towards the end so I guess people just let it be …
Who knows …
i like her songs you’ve mentioned here… and the best of course her big hit first love. somehow, i never found any other songs from her close to that, tho im still quite a fan of hers.
QuaChee – Ah, how could I forget to mention “First Love”? Maybe I am more into her fast tempo songs.
But yes, I love “First Love”. Listening to it right now.
[…] terms of technique and being soulful in the genre of R&B, I would still vote for Utada Hikaru. Having said that, it is always good to have varieties in life and Mai Kuraki does have a decent […]
track 10 was really intended to end abruptly at the end of the song. check around if you don’t believe.
Anon – I beg to differ. It is because I have heard a version whereby it doesn’t end abruptly, with my own ears.
Track 10 is intended to end suddenly. Utada has said so herself and her official website has confirmed it. It’s not a defect.
Anon – Very strange. Cuz I did hear a nicely faded version at HMV Orchard long time ago. Perhaps the initial batch. Otherwise, why would I go through that much hassle to return and the staff of HMV did a refund for me?
Did Utada offer insights from her artistic perspective why the song is truncated? It is very obvious and very unpleasant to the ears given the fact that I do produce music as a hobby. If that is the case, I am very disappointed with her craft.
She said she ended it abruptly so that Boku Wa Kuma could fit on the album better.